Monks and nuns from monasteries and nunneries around Dharamshala attended the prayer service, 27 January 2016. (Photo courtesy: tibet.net)

(TibetanReview.net, Jan28’16) – More than a thousand Tibetans, including monks and nuns, took part in a day-long service at the main Buddhist temple in Dharamshala, India, on Jan 27 to pray for their spiritual leader as he underwent treatment for a prostate condition at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, US state of Minnesota. The service was for his quick recovery.

The prayer service was organized by the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration whose officials turned up in strength at the service.

The administration’s executive head, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, assured the gathering that there was no cause for alarm over the exile Tibetan spiritual leader’s health. He pointed out that both the Dalai Lama himself and the Mayo doctors had said he will fully recover after treatment.

“Prostate treatment is a common condition for people above the age of 60. Generally, doctors in the US advise public for regular prostate checkups after the age of 40. Therefore, considering His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is undergoing prostate treatment at 80 years of age, is a sign of robust health,” the exile administration’s Tibet.net Jan 27 quoted the Sikyong as saying.

The Dalai Lama left Dharamshala for Mayo on Jan 19. He expects to returns in the second week of March to resume his regular engagements.